Top 10 Fun, MPG-Friendly Cars You Can't Buy In America—Yet

Oil is down under $120 per barrel, but gas still ain't cheap. And cars that seemed too small just a few years ago are now squarely positioned to thrive in the market-not just any market, but the biggest automotive market of them all: America's. But that doesn't mean we always get the good stuff. Right now there are precious few cars that return exemplary fuel economy paired with a reasonable dollop of fun. But those lucky devils across the pond have just the cars we're looking for. Now all that's left is convincing manufacturers that we want these mighty mites on our shores. Start sending your letters now.

10. 2009 Mercedes-Benz A-Class

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To many, it's an open question as to whether Mercedes-Benz should even be in the minicar business. And the original terribly built, terrible driving A-Class (introduced back in 1997) didn't help make the case for such a small car. But the A-Class is updated for 2009 and it's now the sort of car that may well make sense for a newly fuel-conscious America.

While the A-Class is as boxy as other hatchbacks in its class, it manages to be distinctive because this tiniest of Benzes carries traditional Mercedes styling cues. At 152.9 in. long overall the A-Class is more than a foot shorter than a Volkswagen Rabbit, but rides on a 101.1-in. wheelbase that's only 0.4 in. shorter than that of VW--so the wheels appear to be pushed out to the very corners of the wee Mercedes.

Available with six different four-cylinder engines--three gas-fired and three diesel-burning--the A-Class can be had with as little as 82 hp aboard (getting as many as 52 mpg) or as much as 193 (more like 40 mpg). In fact, the top-of-the-line A 200 Turbo is very quick indeed and handles with the security one expects of, well, a Mercedes.

The A-Class is all grown up now--and, we think, ready for America.

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9. 2008 Renault Twingo GT Turbo

Make no mistake, Renault's front-drive Twingo is among the dinkiest cars on Earth. At just 135.4 in. long overall on a 92.5-in. wheelbase, the Twingo is more than 10 in. shorter than a Mini Cooper. If it were any smaller it would be a Mattel product. But in GT Turbo form its 1.2-liter turbocharged four is rated at a relatively healthy 99 hp. That's enough to make it entertaining while achieving 47.8 mpg in EU fuel economy tests.

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There's not a millimeter to spare on the Twingo GT Turbo, so every nook and cranny not given over to the powertrain or chassis is dedicated to accommodating passengers. It's a modern miracle of packaging. And yet it also has a reputation for sweet handling and amazing reflexes.

Any car this small is a marginal proposition for intercity travel or anyone with a commute that stretches past a couple of miles. But the small size, brilliant space efficiency and adequate power mean it's one of the world's great urban runabouts. Is America ready for that? Probably not today S but if gas hits six bucks S who knows?

8. 2009 Ford Fiesta ST

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Ford's Fiesta made a brief appearance in America during the mid-70s before retreating back to Europe where it has gone through three generations of development. If the rumors are correct, it's likely that the next-generation Fiesta (closely related to the Mazda2) will return again to anchor Ford's small car push in this country some time around 2010.

But the current Fiesta ST is a pretty delectable treat itself. Powered by a 148-hp, 2.0-liter engine, the front-drive Fiesta ST hatchback is reasonably quick, handles among the very best small cars, gets more than 50 MPG and is handsome in a slightly anonymous way. And we hear this car is just as comfortable in the cut and thrust of urban traffic as it is in the tight corners of a racetrack.

So what's taking Ford so long to get it over here?

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7. 2009 Ford Focus RS

It's no secret that the Ford Focus sold in the rest of the world is a significantly better car than the Focus sold in North America. The world's Focus is, after all, based on the same advanced "C1" platform that underpins the Mazda3 and Volvo S40. Meanwhile we soldier forward with a Focus still built atop the same CW170 chassis that was introduced back in 2000. And in America, we have nothing like the upcoming Focus RS.

The new 2009 Focus RS follows a long line of RS (for "Rallye Sport") models going back through the old Escort RS1600 that established that car's rallying legend. But no previous RS has been quite as radical as the new one that features the 2.5-liter inline five from Volvo. It's turbocharged to the tune of about 300 hp. And it will push all that power out through front wheels alone.

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It's bad enough that Ford won't send its best Focus over here. But why must it torture us with further beasts like the RS?

6. 2009 Alfa Romeo MiTo

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While the new Fiat 500 uses throwback styling to attract buyers, its brother the Alfa Romeo MiTo goes avant garde.

Built atop the same structure that underpins the Fiat Grande Punto and Opel Corsa, the styling of the MiTo ("Mi" is for "Milano" and "To" for "Torino"--pronounce it "me toe") swipes many of its best elements straight from Alfa's 8C Competizione sports car. What's amazing is that the same flourishes that work so well on that sleek exotic look good on this small family car.

Upon its introduction earlier this year, the MiTo was offered with a range of five diesel turbocharged, small displacement gas and diesel four-cylinder engines ranging from 78 to 153 hp. All feed a six-speed manual transmission and mileage ratings for diesel models easily exceed 50 mpg.

Think of it as a Mini Cooper alternative with some real Italian style. Here's hoping the rumors that Alfa wants back into the American market are true.

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5. 2008 Mazda2

Back in 1993 Mazda brought the world its brilliant third generation RX-7. Thanks to finite element analysis and obsessive engineering, that 2800-pound RX-7 was a significantly lighter sports car in an era of wallowing Nissan 300ZXs and gargantuan Corvettes. Think of the Mazda2 as the philosophical successor to that feathery RX-7--except that it's a small family car.

At this moment, the Mazda2 is at the world's leading edge of conventional small-car development. It's shockingly roomy despite its teensy dimensions. It's only 153.3 in. long over a 98-in. wheelbase yet it's relatively comfortable. And it handles superbly despite a strictly ordinary suspension system. Such is the miracle of lightweight construction < the Mazda2 weighs as much as 400 pounds less than some of its direct competitors.

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And because the Mazda2 is so svelte, it doesn't need a hugely powerful engine to be adequately zippy. So Mazda offers it in Europe with a choice of two different 1.3-liter gas fours, a 1.4-liter turbocharged diesel four, or in its sportiest form a 1.5-liter gas four. Even when it's packing the biggest engine, there's only about 100 hp aboard.

"Not only does the 2 dust all rivals in a combined test of performance, economy and emissions," wrote Britain's AutoCar, "it delivers an alert, nimble and enjoyable drive long since missing from top-flight superminis." It's so good in fact that it won both Japan's Car of the Year award and the World Car of the Year award.

It's a car Mazda ought to be sending to America by the boatload. And you can certainly fit a lot of these tykes on a boat.

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4. 2008 Opel Corsa OPC/Vauxhall Corsa VXR

General Motors' constantly shifting product strategy currently has the Saturn division selling cars that were originally designed in Europe to be sold as Opels (on the Continent itself) and Vauxhalls (in Britain). If we're lucky, before that strategy changes again the tiny Corsa will make it over here in its highest performance version.

As a Vauxhall, it's known as the Corsa VXR and as an Opel it's the Corsa OPC, but either way it's a truly small front-drive car overstuffed with a 189-hp 1.6-liter turbocharged four churning a six-speed manual transaxle. Naught to 60 mph is said to happen in 6.8 seconds. Yet despite all that power, Britain's AutoExpress reported back downright excellent 35.8 mpg fuel economy.

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Beyond the power and a chassis tweaked to use it, the Corsa is boldly and quirkily handsome without resorting to retro styling. Plus it features sweet perks like Recaro-made front seats. Go ahead GM, throw a Saturn badge on it and send it over here.

3. 2009 Volkswagen Scirocco

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Back in 1974, the first Volkswagen Scirocco was little more than a racy skin draped over the chassis of the then-new Rabbit S er, Golf. This year Volkswagen repeated that same formula with the introduction of a new front-drive Scirocco that, under the skin, is basically a Golf S er, Rabbit.

Restricted to Europe, the new Scirocco is currently VW's only coupe and, thanks to an aggressively sculpted body and a particularly wide-looking nose, it's a truly gorgeous machine. It backs up those looks with engines culled from the Golf range < a 197-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter four is the most powerful option and a 138-hp common rail 2.0-liter turbodiesel, the most economical. Transmission choices are a conventional six-speed manual or a seven-speed dual-clutch "DSG" paddle-shifted, automated manual.

Even the sportiest Scirocco is reported to get somewhere near 37 mpg while topping out at 146 mph. Could America use a coupe like that? Yes, we could.

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2. 2008 Honda Civic Type-R

Honda sells more cars in North America than it does in any other market. But that doesn't mean that it sends all its best cars over here. Cases in point, the Civic Type-R three-door hatchback that's sold in Europe and the Civic Type-R four-door sedan that's sold in Japan.

Honda gave up on three-door Civics in North America after its halfhearted 2002-2005 Si hatchback was greeted with a yawn. But in Europe, the three-doors have only grown in popularity. The latest hatchback Type-R is almost ludicrously good-looking with its Jetson-spec styling. The Type-R gets a 198 hp 2.0-liter i-VTEC four and six-speed manual transmission, and averages 31 MPG. While the powertrain essentially duplicates that of the U.S. market Civic Si, the hatchback Type-R's bigger 18-in. wheels, shorter wheelbase and lighter weight make it that much more delectable. Plus, did we mention it looks great?

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Meanwhile, in Japan the Type-R looks much like the Civic Si sedan that's sold in America. But its 2.0-liter engine makes 222 hp, gets oversize Brembo front disc brakes, and the 18-in. wheels are wrapped inside larger 225/40R18 Bridgestone tires. Beyond that, many body panels are done in aluminum to cut weight and there's a big wing on the trunk lid. Of course it's more expensive than our Si, but wouldn't it be nice to have the choice?

Britain's Fifth Gear TV program takes a look at both below.

1. 2008 Fiat 500

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Italy's Fiat finally gave up on the American market back in 1983 after decades spent peddling cars that seemed to rust away before they left dealer showrooms. Fiat's unreliability didn't exactly help its reputation. You might recall that for many years, Fiat was an acronym for "Fix It Again, Tony."

But Fiat soldiered on in Europe, walking a tightrope between financial collapse and occasional engineering brilliance. And right now that brilliance is on display in the form of the reborn Fiat 500.

The original 1957 Fiat 500 was heartbreakingly dinky. At 116.9 in. long, its wheelbase was 13.1 in. shorter than that of a 2008 Chevrolet Suburban. Despite its rear-mounted 13 hp and 479cc two-cylinder engine, it was hugely useful, astoundingly economical and, in true Abarth form, a surprisingly successful race car. Throughout its 18-year production run, the original 500 somehow remained stylish and, well, adorable. It's the car Italians think of as the ultimate Italian car—once they get past all those Ferraris.

So Fiat brought the beloved 500 back last year. Yes, the new 500 pays homage to the original in its ultrachic retro styling. But there's a fully contemporary front-drive chassis underneath and power comes from either a 1.2- or 1.4-liter four cylinder, or a 1.3-liter diesel. And there's even a robust Abarth version that absolutely pegs the fun meter. The new 500 is bigger, now stretching out a full 139.7 in. over a 90.5 in. wheelbase--about 6 in. shorter than a Mini Cooper. Europe has gone nuts for the new 500, which should be able to get more than 50 mpg, and there's at least some chance that Americans would, too.

At least those Americans who didn't have a Fiat rot out from underneath them in the 70s.

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